The Clanker Powers:
Germany is a massive military
machine with weapons aimed outwards to all surrounding countries. It points
threateningly at Britain, not so much as a sign of direct aggression, but more
as an indicator that it was now Germany’s turn to start a grand global Empire
to challenge the world’s current one.
Austria Hungary is an aggressive
armoured giant, teetering on shoddy foundations. It is also the primary
aggressor in a land grab against Serbia, with two bayonets piercing the border.
The Ottoman empire is a teetering
automaton, collapsing under the weight of a paranoid and ungainly spying
network that gazes at Europe through many lenses and spy glasses. Istanbul is
labeled Constantinople following the period’s English naming conventions.
The Swiss watch ticks away the time,
comfortable to wait it all out.
The Darwinist Powers:
Britain is an militaristic lion with
a Roman Imperial italic-type helmet. It sits upon a mound of riches gathered
from its Empire.
France’s elephant beast (wearing the
French kepi they started the war with before adapting their firefighter
helmets) is influenced by the Elephantine Collossus built for the Universal
Exhibition of 1889 in Paris (later it ended up going to the Moulin Rouge.)
Russia is a huge imperialist bear,
rotting and filled with maggots.
Serbia’s imagery is an indicator of
the huge amounts of civilian deaths and suffering they’ll find themselves
subject to.
Norway and Sweden are both
Scandinavian trolls in the style of John Bauer, an inspirational illustrator
from the era who produced a lot of phenomenal work during the war.
Portugal is a parrot for the Entente
trying to goad a slumbering Spain into the war.
Ireland looks askance to Britain and
brandishes a shillelagh. An indicator of their very rough relationship at the
time, and of their upcoming involvement with the Central powers.
Italy is a clutch of snakes with
intents on the Central powers despite existing agreements. A foreshadowing of
their arrangements at the secret 1915 Treaty of London where they were promised
land in exchange for involvement. It was heavily influenced by Italian Prime
Minister, Antonio Salandra’s open policy of serving Italy’s “divine
self-interest.”
